I just read the two Cho Seung-Hui plays that are posted on AOL. While not the most violent works I’ve ever read, the perspective of his protagonists is very disturbing.
In “Richard McBeef,” John has a great deal of contempt for his stepfather and goes out of his way to impugn his character, despite titular character’s attempt to reach out to him. John, in turn, spits profanities at his stepfather, accuses his him of killing his father to marry his mother, and claims he is trying to molest him. After stirring up things between his mother and “Richard McBeef,” John is tragically killed by a lethal blow from his enemy.
The teenagers think nothing of beating down their high school math teacher in “Mr. Brownstone,” and they all describe him in very unsavory terms before the incident. While they don’t get away with murder, they assault Mr. Brownstone and try to take his winnings ticket after illegally entering a casino. Security intervenes and the teenagers feel they have been dealt another raw deal.
One common thread in the titles is that the works are named after the enemy or the object of the main character’s hatred. The protagonists are self-centered, contemptuous of adults, and think nothing of lying or carrying out physical violence against them. They have very little sympathy for others, and hate their targets for truly inexplicable reasons. The feeling that others somehow owe them something is present in these works. They bear a hint of the rage that was barely articulated until a few days ago.
Tags: Cho Seung-Hui, creative writing, disturbing works, drama, English majors, plays, screenplays, Virginia Tech
The cliche that keeps bouncing around in my head is “Rebel Without a Clue”.
Not sure why that is.
Something was eating at him, though he himself couldn’t clearly say what.